Rabbits!

[Chonke]

Have you tried like Craigslist or Facebook? Facebook usually has some people selling meat rabbits/kits. (You just gotta search for it Lol) Craigslist usually has some too

Yeah, thats what I meant by local classifieds lol. Every once in a while they do show up, its just very rare.

If you are serious about getting into rabbits, I highly recommend finding a great breeder to start off with good stock. It's extra cost / challenge far exceeds the ease of buying rabbits with a completely unknown history. It's also imperative for biosecurity reasons.

I would suggest going to a local show and meeting some local breeders and asking around. You can find local shows here:

https://www.arba.net/showsSearch.php#showsearch

If you are specifically interested in NZ rabbits, and don't have time for shows, I'd reach out to any number of the people on this list. If it is outdated, ask them who might be able to help you out close by. It's a relatively small community.

http://www.newzealandrabbitclub.net/breeders.htm

Hope this helps.

It sure does. It looks like ill have to travel a little to find a good breeder.

 

[balloonflower]

I found the breeders I got my silver fox from on a combination of craigslist and rabbitbreeders.us. I did find the website info outdated, with many I contacted not responding or no longer breeding, but I found even my rarer rabbits.

Where are you located? You might also try to look for local homesteading groups, or chicken swaps. Many of them here also deal in rabbits.

 

[FluffyWyandot]

yes, local breeders are ALWAYS better than petshops

 

[FluffyWyandot]

yes, local breeders are ALWAYS better than petshops

 

[FluffyWyandot]

oops! sorry for the spam everyone.

 

[balloonflower]

So, my 8 year old daughter is now really pushing to get a dwarf hotot. She has enough money from her bday to buy the bun (she found a pic on my craigslist search page that was up as I look to replace a silver fox doe). But, obviously there's more to it than just paying for the bun. I'm thinking that this one due to size would need to be an in-house bun rather than out in the garage w my silver foxes. That means another cage. So there's that, plus I've read about possible GI issues and teeth issues, and they don't always breed true if we ever had more than one.

I go back and forth on whether to even consider it--she hasn't been as attached to the sf's, but then again "her" doe ended up being the cranky one that the girls can't handle. She does help w food, water, and grooming when asked, but not shown initiative to do anything herself. It may be that having her own pet inside would force that, as I wouldn't just take care of it along w the garage bunch.

It may be that she wants more interaction and cuddling than she gets from the sf's or our chooks. She is working on training our buck to go outside on a harness/leash (and wants him to deliver eggs to our neighbors for Easter). I'm making her come up with a list of reasons why she wants this other than a cute picture. But can anyone offer advice on having a dwarf breed? I've shown her pics of dwarf Netherlands (she always wanted rew nz, but I picked sf's instead), but she now really likes the hotot coloration.

 

[Silkie2]

So, my 8 year old daughter is now really pushing to get a dwarf hotot. She has enough money from her bday to buy the bun (she found a pic on my craigslist search page that was up as I look to replace a silver fox doe). But, obviously there's more to it than just paying for the bun. I'm thinking that this one due to size would need to be an in-house bun rather than out in the garage w my silver foxes. That means another cage. So there's that, plus I've read about possible GI issues and teeth issues, and they don't always breed true if we ever had more than one.

I go back and forth on whether to even consider it--she hasn't been as attached to the sf's, but then again "her" doe ended up being the cranky one that the girls can't handle. She does help w food, water, and grooming when asked, but not shown initiative to do anything herself. It may be that having her own pet inside would force that, as I wouldn't just take care of it along w the garage bunch.

It may be that she wants more interaction and cuddling than she gets from the sf's or our chooks. She is working on training our buck to go outside on a harness/leash (and wants him to deliver eggs to our neighbors for Easter). I'm making her come up with a list of reasons why she wants this other than a cute picture. But can anyone offer advice on having a dwarf breed? I've shown her pics of dwarf Netherlands (she always wanted rew nz, but I picked sf's instead), but she now really likes the hotot coloration.

dwarf rabbits are pretty much like every other rabbit. Most don't like to be cuddled, or picked up and carried. Having them inside is a lot of fun. They can be potty trained. Mine lives in the basement but every once in awhile I'll bring him up to my room. If you decide to keep a rabbit inside, I strongly suggest you get it fixed. (Unless you want your house to smell, really bad.. and if it's a male, it will most likely spray)

If you do want an indoor bunny I do also suggest looking on the 'house rabbit society' website for care if for it. The website is full of great information.

 

[User395221]

I'd be cautious about getting any new rabbit of a specific breed, hoping it will be cuddly. If I wanted a "cuddle-bunny", I'd adopt an adult looking for rehoming, one that has been raised with a lot of handling and who is known to be a "cuddler". I have 2 netherland dwarf rabbits, one is quite a little cranky-pants. I think she'd be even more disappointed to get her own bunny wanting a "real pet" and then getting a stand-offish (normal) bun.

 

[Silkie2]

I'd be cautious about getting any new rabbit of a specific breed, hoping it will be cuddly.  If I wanted a "cuddle-bunny", I'd adopt an adult looking for rehoming, one that has been raised with a lot of handling and who is known to be a "cuddler".  I have 2 netherland dwarf rabbits, one is quite a little cranky-pants.  I think she'd be even more disappointed to get her own bunny wanting a "real pet" and then getting a stand-offish (normal) bun.  

Yes that ^^

 

[RoboDuck]

Wow. Looks like we got lucky. My daughter's new rabbit is very social. He doesn't mind being carried around at all. Now we just gotta get him neutered.